5 5 301 1 As usual, Noan is half an hour early to Dark Aries' preparation room, waiting for the regular meeting with Simon and the other two teammates.
6 6 301 It has been almost a month since Noan came to Babylonia. He is slowly getting used to life here.
7 7 301 Each day has become longer. As a Construct, he no longer needs to sleep every day.
8 8 301 Apart from the routine training and occasional frame checks, he has no fixed schedule.
9 9 301 He wanted to stay in the training room a little longer, but as long as he was there, others would stay away.
10 10 301 In the end, Noan would take up the entire room, while the rest would squeeze inside another.
11 11 301 AniZhuanchangBegin He asked Commandant Simon and Captain Palma for advice...
12 12 504 0.7
13 13 201 1 500201 -400
14 14 201 2 500522 400
15 15 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Simon ...The information about your frame and Ascendants should be classified, unless someone purposely leaked it. 1
16 16 301 Palma Tch, even if no one leaked it, I don't think you will ever blend in with those "normal" guys. 2
17 17 202 2 1
18 18 201 1 500506
19 19 301 1 Noan Why? 1
20 20 201 1 500522
21 21 301 1 Palma Do you know what others call the restructured Dark Aries? 1
22 22 301 Palma "Black Sheep", or "Outcast". Three of us all have our own problems. Lillian may not look like one, but she is in fact... 1
23 23 201 1 500335
24 24 301 1 Lillian Captain Palma...! 1
25 25 201 1 500522
26 26 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 Palma Anyway, just forget about making friends. 1
27 27 201 1 500506
28 28 504 0
29 29 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 There is a subtle grief in her words. She sounds like she is trying to persuade herself.
30 30 301 Recently, Noan often saw others board the shuttle in a rush for missions on the surface.
31 31 301 Even Gray Raven, who had just returned, also immediately moved on to the next mission.
32 32 301 Apart from Dark Aries, everyone is busy.
33 33 301 Each time he asked Commandant Simon when he could take part in a mission, he was always answered with "We are still in maintenance."
34 34 301 —When can I ever go help the frontline?
35 35 301 —Or, am I already being "helpful" by not causing any more trouble?
36 36 301 Noan ... 1
37 37 301 Not only in the training room, he can feel others looking at him or whispering when he walks on the road.
38 38 301 Noan knows they have no ill intentions, nor will they reject him. But their overly polite attitude makes him feel somehow alienated.
39 39 301 It is always reminding him that he is an outsider with too much affiliation with Ascendants. That they need to beware of him.
40 40 301 Noan ... 1
41 41 301 Noan It is but one of the prices I have to pay for my choice. 1
42 42 301 He just silently tells himself that he should not feel bitter about it.
43 43 202 1 1
44 44 201 1 500201 -400
45 45 201 2 500506 400
46 46 301 1 Simon Noan? You're the first again. 1
47 47 301 Noan Right. I don't really have anything else to do. 2
48 48 301 Simon Is it still the same... in the training room? 1
49 49 301 Noan Yeah. I think I should go when there aren't many people around. 2
50 50 301 Simon lowers his head and remains silent for a long time.
51 51 301 Simon I met the Chief on the way here. 1
52 52 301 Simon They just returned from a mission, but will soon take part in a new one. I heard that another more dangerous, large-scale mission would commence in just a month's time. 1
53 53 301 Noan has not answered Simon. He just listens quietly.
54 54 301 He is always like this. When he does not know what to say, he would start talking about Gray Raven Commandant.
55 55 301 Probably because it is the safest common topic, compared with the past of Dark Aries, his own attitude toward Noan, or anything related to Noan's recent situation.
56 56 301 In such a conversation, Simon won't leak anything that he shouldn't say, nor will he fall into bitter memories after bringing up Dark Aries' past.
57 57 301 Simon ... 1
58 58 301 But he is not continuing on the topic today.
59 59 301 Simon Right, if you have nothing to do, shall we go for a walk in the square nearby? 1
60 60 301 Simon The greenhouse in the outer section of F.O.S. College has been open to public since half a year ago. Some of the species are hardly found even on the surface. 1
61 61 301 Simon Oh, and the library in Zone K... 1
62 62 301 Simon Now that everybody uses their terminal to find information, the library is almost always empty. They renovated it three years ago and put it next to the cafe, but there are still not many visitors. 1
63 63 301 Noan Sure. I'll check it out. 2
64 64 301 Noan But... Did something happen? 2
65 65 301 Simon Um... What? 1
66 66 301 Noan Between you and the Chief? 2
67 67 301 Simon ...Nothing. 1
68 68 301 Noan Then why aren't you talking about the Chief today? 2
69 69 301 Simon ...You really are sensitive. 1
70 70 301 Simon I didn't continue on the topic because it could be just my personal opinion. 1
71 71 301 Simon thinks for a while, rubbing his fingers.
72 72 301 Simon When I met Chief today, I felt like that person was already on the edge... 1
73 73 301 Noan On the edge? 2
74 74 301 Simon It could be that I'm just thinking too much. 1
75 75 301 He emphasizes again.
76 76 301 Simon Still, it looked like Chief hadn't had a good rest for ages. 1
77 77 301 Noan But didn't that commandant just return from a mission? 2
78 78 301 Simon Correct. I checked the task allocation, Gray Raven wasn't given that much work, but they were always busy in Babylonia... 1
79 79 301 Simon I don't know if Chief is just trying to stay busy... on purpose? 1
80 80 301 Simon Sigh. I'm probably thinking too much. 1
81 81 301 Noan But there must be a reason to make you think so, right? 2
82 82 301 Simon ...That's right. 1
83 83 301 Simon Chief had brain injuries during the operation in Pulia Forest Park Ruins, and had been in coma for about three months. 1
84 84 301 Noan Yeah, I know that. 2
85 85 301 Simon When Chief woke up, the world was devastated. Numerous people had died. Even Chief's most reliable team member was on the brink of death... 1
86 86 301 Simon If it was me, I would probably hate myself for sleeping so long. 1
87 87 301 Noan ... 2
88 88 301 Simon After saving Liv, Chief fell unconscious again. 1
89 89 301 Simon The next time Chief woke up, a lot of things had gone even worse... There were many traitors. Liv's treatment was postponed. Even Lee... 1
90 90 301 Simon Bianca was also seriously wounded when she was away from Gray Raven on a mission to hunt the traitors. 1
91 91 301 Simon lowers his head and sighs.
92 92 301 Simon Bringing you back might be one of the few pieces of good news during this time. 1
93 93 301 Simon Ever since that, Chief had been trying to stay busy... 1
94 94 301 Noan If you are that worried, why don't you go and ask in person? 2
95 95 301 Simon Forget it... 1
96 96 301 Simon I better stop thinking about it. That person is our idol and hero. Worrying too much means I don't have faith in Chief and would only add more burden. 1
97 97 301 Noan ... 2
98 98 301 But heroes are still humans. When they are hurt, they would want to cry too... Noan only keeps these words to himself.
99 99 301 He does not know Simon well, let alone Gray Raven Commandant. To that "Chief", he is nothing more than an acquittance. He has no right to question Simon's trust or to worry about that Chief's tenacity.
100 100 301 Simon Anyway, would you like to think about my suggestion? 1
101 101 301 Simon I can apply for a permit for you. You can even stay there as a temporary staff. At least you can get paid and buy something you like. Better than not knowing where to go. 1
102 102 204 2 1
103 103 301 Noan To the greenhouse and library? Sure, thanks. 2
104 104 301 Simon No problem. This is one of the few things I can help you with. I just think that someone like you... will be happier in the crowd. 1
105 105 301 Noan You have already helped me a lot. 2
106 106 301 Simon No... If you were assigned to Strike Hawk or another less isolated squad, you will be much better off... 1
107 107 301 Noan This place is good enough for me. 2
108 108 301 Noan No matter who I am, no matter where I go, I need to take one step at a time. 2
109 109 301 Noan There will always be people like you who are willing to talk to me, and people like Captain Palma who would stay alerted. 2
110 110 204 2 2
111 111 301 Noan is more or less aware that Simon was also assigned to keep an eye on him, but he still lets down the guard and closes his eyes.
112 112 204 2
113 113 301 Noan Even if I went to the squad you mentioned, the same thing would happen. 2
114 114 301 Noan They need time to know and trust me. I need time to blend in. It's very fair. 2
115 115 301 Simon ...Fair? 1
116 116 301 Noan Yeah. That's why this place is good enough for me. 2
117 117 301 Simon ... 1
118 118 401 2 1513
119 119 301 Simon takes off his glasses and rubs his nose. Both remain silent until it is two minutes past the scheduled meeting time. They hear the rushed steps of the other two members.
120 120 202 1 2 1
121 121 201 1 500522
122 122 301 1 Palma Why are you here first again? Don't you have better things to do every day? 1
123 123 201 1 500506 1
124 124 301 1 Noan Yeah, you're right. 1
125 125 201 1 500522
126 126 301 1 Palma I'm not complimenting you. When someone disapproves of you, just show the negative emotion instead of giving me that disgusting smile. 1
127 127 202 1 1
128 128 201 1 500201 400
129 129 201 2 500522 -400
130 130 301 1 Simon What's your excuse for being late today? 1
131 131 301 Palma None of your business. 2
132 132 301 Simon Palma, you promised me yesterday that you would give me bottom-line cooperation. I also agreed with the conditions you proposed. 1
133 133 301 Palma ... 2
134 134 301 Palma Tch, I met a good opponent during the simulation battle. 2
135 135 301 Simon What about you, Lillian? 1
136 136 202 2 1
137 137 201 2 500335 -400
138 138 301 1 Lillian ...I bumped into the Gray Raven Commandant outside. 2
139 139 301 Simon Chief? 1
140 140 301 Lillian Yeah, but then something that needed immediate handling came up, so I was asked to pass this on to you. 2
141 141 301 Lillian hands over a bottle of stomach pills. It looks no different from what Simon always takes.
142 142 301 Lillian You are running low on pills, aren't you? 2
143 143 301 Simon nods and takes the bottle.
144 144 202 2 1
145 145 201 2 500522 -400
146 146 301 1 Palma That commandant must be very free to help you get the pills. 2
147 147 301 Simon hears her and frowns.
148 148 301 Simon Chief should be pretty busy lately. 1
149 149 202 2 1
150 150 201 2 500335 -400
151 151 301 1 Lillian I was told the pills were taken when that commandant was in Star of Life with Liv. 2
152 152 301 Simon ...I see. Glad to know Chief wasn't trying too hard. 1
153 153 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin He lets out a sigh of relief.
